4 AGRICULTURE 



edges of the blades longer than the center? What proof 

 have you? 



The length of the stem varies with different varieties of 

 corn, and because of differences in the season or the soil. 

 The range is from two or three feet to fifteen or twenty feet. 

 The stem is divided by joints called nodes; the sections be- 

 tween these joints are called internodes. 



Is the stem round, or flattened? Cut the stem across 

 and note the structure. Unlike most other grasses, corn is 

 not hollow. The spongy substance with which the hard 

 outside shell is filled is called pith. The threads found run- 

 ning lengthwise through the pith add greatly to the strength 

 of the stalk. 



The leaves. The leaves are important in the growth 

 of the plant, since in them the plant food is worked over 

 and assimilated, and through them the respiration, or breath- 

 ing, of the plant is done. The leaves are large, and hence 

 have to stand much tugging in the wind. Are they stronger 

 because of their sheath-like form of attachment ? Will they 

 tear as easily in a strong wind if the outer edges are slight- 

 ly longer than the center ? Large vigorous leaves indicate a 

 healthy plant. In very dry weather, the leaves curl up from 

 the edges. This is a useful habit, since the leaf when thus 

 rolled up does not lose so much moisture as when fully 

 open. 



Tassel and silk. Strip the husk carefully from an 

 ear in the milk stage, without injuring the silks. How 

 many silks are there? Where are the silks attached to the 

 ear? While tassel and silk are borne on different parts of 

 the plant, yet it takes both together to make the complete 

 flower of the corn and produce the ear. The tassel repre- 

 sents the male part, and the silk the female part of the 

 flower. 



The work of the tassel is to produce pollen. This sifts 



